Paint can lid with paint roller cleaning means

ABSTRACT

A generally panel-like cover is provided for a container and includes attaching structure for securing the cover to the top of an associated container. The cover includes a rectangular opening formed therein of a length and width to snugly receive a conventional paint roller therethrough. In addition, that portion of the cover defining one end of a longitudinal edge of the opening includes a slot which opens into the opening in a direction extending transversely thereof on one side of the opening and the slot is of a width to snugly receive the support rod portion of the paint roller handle which projects laterally outwardly from one end of a paint roller. The portions of the cover which define the opposite ends of the opening include upwardly struck integral flanges which terminate upwardly in inturned substantially coplanar mounting flanges. The plane in which the mounting flanges are disposed is inclined downwardly toward and passes through the opening adjacent the other longitudinal edge thereof and a shield panel is removeably supported from the mounting flanges for substantially closing the rectangular opening from above after a paint roller has been passed through the rectangular opening.

United States Patent [191 Habostad [451 Aug. 26, 1975 1 PAINT CAN LID WITH PAINT ROLLER CLEANING MEANS [76] Inventor: Arne Habostad, 6000 24th Ave.

N.W., Apt. 310, Seattle, Wash. 98107 [22] Filed: June 10, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 478,096

[52] U.S. Cl. 134/138; 134/154; 134/183;

134/201; 220/90 [51] Int. Cl B08b 3/02 [58] Field of Search l34/l38l39,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,698,450 1/1955 Mack 220/90 X 2,798,239 7/1957 Frcund l5/257.05 X

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney, Agent, or FirmC1arence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson 1 1 ABSTRACT A generally panel-like cover is provided for a container and includes attaching structure for securing the cover to the top of an associated container. The cover includes a rectangular opening formed therein of a length and width to snugly receive a conventional paint roller therethrough. In addition, that portion of the cover defining one end of a longitudinal edge of the opening includes a slot which opens into the opening in a direction extending transversely thereof on one side of the opening and the slot is of a width to snugly receive the support rod portion of the paint roller handle which projects laterally outwardly from one end of a paint roller. The portions of the cover which define the opposite ends of the opening include upwardly struck integral flanges which terminate upwardly in inturned substantially coplanar mounting flanges. The plane in which the mounting flanges are disposed is inclined downwardly toward and passes through the opening adjacent the other longitudinal edge thereof and a shield panel is removeably supported from the mounting flanges for substantially closing the rectangular opening from above after a paint roller has been passed through the rectangular opening.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAINT CAN LID WITH PAINT ROLLER CLEANING MEANSv BACKGROUND oF THE lNVENTlON Various devices have been heretofore designed for the purpose of facilitating the cleaning of paint rollers. Some of these previous devices are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,698,450 to A. Mack, dated Jan. 4, 1955, 2,798,239 to H. L. Freund, dated July 9, 1957, 3,422,828 to H. Dommer, dated Jan. 21, 1969 and 3,688,785 to Jackson B. Stevens, et al., dated Sept. 5,

However, these previously known devices have not been designed as covers for readily available containers in which water used in the process of cleaning a paint roller may be contained. Therefore, special containers or total paint cleaning devices including their owncontainers have been required/Accordingly, a need exists whereby a'readily 'available container may -be converted into a paint roller cleaning apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The paint roller cleaning aid of the instant invention comprises a'covei' fora conventional five gallon paint can having a rolled upper rim. Substantially all five gallon cans have the same upper 'rim'structure and are of the same diameter. Accordingly, the cover defining accessory of the instant invention may be used in conjunction with substantially any empty five gallon paint can before it is discarded. The cover defining portion has a rectangular slot formed therein through which the roller portion of a paint roller may be downwardly displaced into the associated five gallon can and a removable shield panel is supported from the cover defining portion in a manner such that an entrance slot is defined whereby the discharge nozzle of a water supply hose may be directed inwardly of the entrance slot so as to discharge a jet of cleaning water along the periphery of the associated paint roller while the discharge nozzle is moved back and forth along the slot. The water utilized in cleaning the paint roller is retained by the five gallon container or can and may be discarded in a remote location. Otherwise, if the paint roller to be cleaned is immediately adjacent a convenient location for discarding thewater to be used in the paint roller a lower portion of the five gallon can or bucket prior to its use in cleaning theroller so that the water collected within the bucket or can may be discharged therefrom at a desired location.

The main object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby a conventional paint container maybe used as a container for collecting water used in cleaning a paint roller.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an accessory for a conventional paint container which may be used, in conjunction with thecontainer and after the latter has beenemptied to define a convenient structure in which a paint roller may'be cleaned by jetting water along one marginal edge portion of the roller.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an accessory for a five gallon paint container which may be utilized to transform the paint container into a paint roller cleaning apparatus and which because-of its large cleaning operation, an exit opening may be punched in capacity will be capable of collecting and retaining all of the water that is required to clean a paint roller.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of five gallon paint container or can. The can 10 includes an upstanding cylindrical body closed at its lower end by means of an appropriate bottom wall (not shown) and the upper end of the cylindrical body 12 terminates in an outwardly, downwardly and inwardly rolled reinforcing rim 14.

The lid accessory of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 16 and includes a generally circular panel-like body 18 whose outer pen'phery includes an upwardly, outwardly and downwardly rolled rim 20. As may best be seen from FIG. 2 of the drawings the lid accessory l6is positionable over the'upper end of the container 10 with the downwardly opening rolled rim 20 of the lid accessory 16 seated over the outwardly, downwardly and inwardly rolled reinforcing rim 14 of the container 10.

Diametrically opposite portions of the body 18 are provided with latching links 22. The links 22 include corresponding ends which overlie the body 18 and are pivotally secured thereto by means of pivot fasteners 24. The other ends of the latching links 22 include upwardly directed portions 26 which terminate outwardly in horizontally outwardly projecting portions 28 in turn terminating outwardly in downturned portions 30. The portions 30 terminate downwardly in inturned portions 32.

The latching levers 22 may be swung between latched positions thereof such as those illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and released positions thereof such as that illustrated in phantom lines in the upper portion of FIG. 1. When in the released positions the inturned portions 32 are swung outwardly from beneath the reinforcing rib 14 and thus the lid accessory 1.6 may be upwardly displaced from the container 10.

The central portion of the body 18 is provided with a rectangular opening 34 extending generally along a diameter of the body 18 and including opposite side longitudinal edges 36 and 38. The opposite ends of the opening 34 are defined by integral upwardly struck flanges 40 and the upper ends of the flanges 40 terminate in intumed mounting flanges 42 which are coplanar and are disposed in a plane extending downwardly toward the edge 'portion 36.

Further, the body 18 has a slot 44 formed therein which opens transversely into the opening 34 through one end of the edge 38 and a shield panel 46 is provided and is of a length slightly less than the distance between the flanges 40 and of a width slightly greater than the width of the opening 34. One longitudinal edge portion of the shield panel 46 terminates in a right-angled flange 48 which in turn terminates in a backturned support flange 50.

ln operation, when it is desired to clean the roller portion 52 of a paint roller 54 including a handle 56 from which the roller 52 is journaled by means ofa support rod portion 58 projecting transversely outwardly from one end portion of the roller member 52, the shield panel 46 is removed and the roller portion 52 is displaced downwardly through the opening 34 after the lid accessory 16 has been applied to the upper end of the container 10. When the roller portion 52 is displaced downwardly through the opening 34 the support rod portion 58 is received in the slot 44 and the shield panel may be supported from the support flanges 42 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings with the opposite ends of the support panel 46 overlying the flanges 42, the backturned flange 50 disposed beneath the upper ends of the flanges 42 and the upturned portion or flange 48 of the shield panel abutted against the upper ends of the flanges 42. Further, the longitudinal edge portion of the shield panel 46 remote from the right-angled flange 48 projects slightly through the opening 34 and beneath the marginal edge 36 thereof. With the roller portion 52 thus positioned and the shield panel 46 mounted in position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings the nozzle 60 carried by the discharge end of a water supply hose 62 may be projected into the entrance slot defined between the juncture of the flange portion 48 and the shield panel 46 and the underlying edge portion 38 of the opening 34 and positioned to direct a jet discharge of water on the periphery of the roller portion 52 as the latter is rotated at high speed due to the jet of water being directed thereon. Further, the nozzle 60 may be caused to traverse back and forth along the entrance slot through which the nozzle 60 is projected.

All of the water utilized in cleaning the roller portion 52 may be retained within the container and water being spun from the roller portion 52 is prevented from being discharged outwardly through the entrance slot into which the nozzle 60 projects. The roller 52 may be shifted from the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 to a position more closely adjacent the edge 38 of the opening 34.

If the container 10 is positioned immediately adjacent a convenient point at which the water used to clean the roller portion 52 may be discarded, a convenient outlet opening may be punched in the bottom or the lower side wall portion of the container 10 for discharging the water collected within the container 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A closure panel for disposition over the open upper end of a container, said panel including a generally rectangular opening formed therein for receiving therethrough a cylindrical paint roller element laterally advanced there toward, said panel further including upstanding support flanges adjacent and extending across the end edges of said opening, the upper portions of said support flanges being inclined downwardly toward one longitudinal edge of said opening, and an inclined shield panel extending between and removably supported from said support flanges and at least substantially closing said opening in a vertical direction, the higher side of said shield panel being spaced above the plane of said panel and defining entrance slot along which a water line discharge nozzle directed inwardly through said slot may be traversed for directing a jet of water along the full length of one longitudinal marginal edge of a roller element disposed inwardly of said openmg.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel also includes a slot formed therein extending transversely of and opening into one side of said opening at one end thereof, said one side of said opening comprising the side thereof above which the higher side of said shield panel is disposed, said slot being adapted to snugly receive the support rod portion of a paint roller assembly projecting transversely outwardly of one end portion of the paint roller element.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said support flanges terminate in generally coplanar inwardly directed mounting flanges which project toward each other and are inclined downwardly toward said one longitudinal edge of said opening, said shield panel being removably supported from said mounting flanges.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the opposite ends of said shield panel overlie the upper surfaces of said mounting flanges and the longitudinal edge of said shield panel adjacent the upper ends of said mounting flanges include downturned and backturned portions which abut the upper end edges of said mounting flanges and closely underlie the upper end portions of said mounting flanges, respectively.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said shield panel is of a length slightly less than the spacing be tween said support flanges but greater than the spacing between said mounting flanges.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said downturned and backturned portions comprise opposite end portions of downturned and backturned flanges extending substantially the full length of said shield panel.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal edge of said shield panel corresponding to said one longitudinal edge of said opening projects through the latter and beneath said one longitudinal edge of said opening.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said panel also includes a slot formed therein extending transversely of and opening into one side of said opening at one end thereof, said one side of said opening comprising the side thereof above which the higher side of said shield panel is disposed, said slot being adapted to snugly receive the support rod portion of a paint roller assembly projecting transversely outwardly of one end portion of the paint roller element.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the upper portion of said support flanges terminate in generally coplanar inwardly directed mounting flanges which project toward each other and are inclined downwardly toward said one longitudinal edge of said opening, said shield panel being removably supported from said mounting flanges.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the opposite ends of said shield panel overlie the upper surfaces of said mounting flanges and the longitudinal edge of said shield panel adjacent the upper ends of said mounting flanges include downturned and backturned portions which abut the upper end edges of said mounting flanges and closely underlie the upper end portions of said mounting flanges, respectively. 

1. A closure panel for disposition over the open upper end of a container, said panel including a generally rectangular opening formed therein for receiving therethrough a cylindrical paint roller element laterally advanced there toward, said panel further including upstanding support flanges adjacent and extending across the end edges of said opening, the upper portions of said support flanges being inclined downwardly toward one longitudinal edge of said opening, and an inclined shield panel extending between and removably supported from said support flanges and at least substantially closing said opening in a vertical direction, the higher side of said shield panel being spaced above the plane of said panel and defining entrance slot along which a water line discharge nozzle directed inwardly through said slot may be traversed for directing a jet of water along the full length of one longitudinal marginal edge of a roller element disposed inwardly of said opening.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel also includes a slot formed therein extending transversely of and opening into one side of said opening at one end thereof, said one side of said opening comprising the side thereof above which the higher side of said shield panel is disposed, said slot being adapted to snugly receive the support rod portion of a paint roller assembly projecting transversely outwardly of one end portion of the paint roller element.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said support flanges terminate in generally coplanar inwardly directed mounting flanges which project toward each other and are inclined downwardly toward said one longitudinal edge of said opening, said shield panel being removably supported from said mounting flanges.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the opposite ends of said shield panel overlie the upper surfaces of said mounting flanges and the longitudinal edge of said shield panel adjacent the upper ends of said mounting flanges include downturned and backturned portions which abut the upper end edges of said mounting flanges and closely underlie the upper end portions of said mounting flanges, respectively.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said shield panel is of a length slightly less than the spacing between said support flanges but greater than the spacing between said mounting flanges.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said downturned and backturned portions comprise opposite end portions of downturned and backturned flanges extending substantially the full length of said shield panel.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal edge of said shield panel corresponding to said one longitudinal edge of said opening projects through the latter and beneath said one longitudinal edge of said opening.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said panel also includes a slot formed therein extending transversely of and opening into one side of said opening at one end thereof, said one side of said opening comprising the side thereof above which the higher side of said shield panel is disposed, said slot being adapted to snugly receive the support rod portion of a paint roller assembly projecting transversely outwardly of one end portion of the paint roller element.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the upper portion of said support flanges terminate in generally coplanar inwardly directed mounting flanges which project toward each other and are inclined downwardly toward said one longitudinal edge of said opening, said shield panel being removably supported from said mounting flanges.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the opposite ends of said shield panel overlie the upper suRfaces of said mounting flanges and the longitudinal edge of said shield panel adjacent the upper ends of said mounting flanges include downturned and backturned portions which abut the upper end edges of said mounting flanges and closely underlie the upper end portions of said mounting flanges, respectively. 